Gareth Manning, Gleaner Writer

Just under two years after the tragedy, Government is yet to table a report explaining the circumstances that led to the deaths of three men at the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Old Harbour Plant in St. Catherine.

Responding to questions from Opposition Spokesman on Energy, Clive Mullings, during a sitting last week of Parliament's Standing Finance Committee considering the 2007/2008 Estimates of expenditures, Derrick Kellier, Minister of Labour and Social Security, said the Government would be submitting the report shortly.

"(Delaying) the making public of the report for such a long time is regretted. However, I still give the undertaking that, in the shortest possible time, it having come to Cabinet and we have discussed it, we will have it in the public domain," said Mr. Kellier.

The report, which he told The Gleaner had been submitted to Cabinet some time ago, is to be presented to Parliament in about two weeks.

Bring itto parliament

"I was having a discussion just last week about it and we need to now bring it to the Parliament so that it can be there for national consumption," he said.

In 2005, 41-year-old Owen Townsend, Woodford Brown, 34, and 60-year-old Alfred Williams, who were all stationed at the JPS Old Harbour Power Plant, died after inhaling a poisonous gas while carrying out their duties. Two other employees were treated at hospital.

The full treatment of the injured men was paid for by JPS as well as the funeral expenses of the three dead men, but none of the familes has been guaranteed or received compensation from the company for the men's deaths.

The families had threatened to sue the company, but it is not clear whether any of the families took the company to court.

Mr. Kellier stated that the company has made several adjustments to its safety mechanisms since the incident.

He said inspectors from the ministry have been visiting the plant regularly as well as other power stations and the inspections have been showing marked improvement.

"Those issues applying to occupational safety and health, the JPS is now moving with some alacrity to have them corrected," he said.